Monday, July 17th, 2023

Dear Friend,

As we are about halfway through July, I would like to wish you all a great rest of the month and hope that you've enjoyed it thus far with the many programs and activities available for county residents. I hope you've been able to keep cool in this summer heat!

I want to keep you updated about the continuing public meetings on the future of Lake Accotink Park and give a warm welcome to our summer interns. I look forward to seeing many of you at Franconia Nights, held Wednesdays from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Franconia District Park. Stay cool and enjoy the summer.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact my office.

Email: Franconia@fairfaxcounty.gov

Phone 703-971-6262

-Rodney

Table of Contents

Task Force on the Future of Lake Accotink
Welcome to our Interns
Franconia Nights Summer Entertainment Series
Three Great Reasons to Go Solar in Fairfax County in 2023
Fairfax Project Based Voucher Waiting List for Seniors
Registration for SACC's 2024-25 School Year Program
Fairfax County Public Library Summer Reading Challenge
Capital Area Food Bank Summer Meals
FCPS Summer Meal Program
ECHO Food Donations
Park Authority Community Survey
Senior Cool Care Program
Real Estate Tax Bills Information
Statewide Digital Opportunity Survey
Opioid Overdoses Continue; Learn How to Get Help
Mason Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs)
Summer Heat Safety Tips
Your Guide to Summer

Task Force on the Future of Lake Accotink - next meeting July 24th

The Task Force on the Future of Lake Accotink, established at the June 6 Board of Supervisors meeting, held their first meeting on Monday, June 26, at 7 p.m. at the Government Center. The video of the first meeting is available here. The task force produced findings that will inform the Board of Supervisors’ decision regarding the future of Lake Accotink.

Lake Accotink Park attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually with its stunning trails, picturesque picnic areas and engaging waterfront activities. The 55-acre manmade reservoir, which was built by the U.S. Army, has required regular dredging due to sedimentation. However, extensive analysis by Fairfax County staff has led to the recommendation against further dredging due to significant costs, environmental impacts, and difficulties in processing and disposing of sediment. The staff proposes restarting the Park's Master Planning process with a focus on fostering a sustainable future for the lake and the park.

The task force will review past studies about dredging and ensure comprehensive exploration of all options to preserve Lake Accotink in the most sustainable, equitable and cost-effective manner. It will identify crucial questions to be addressed if the board decides to explore a managed wetland or hybrid option. The group will also consider the environmental impact, effects on surrounding communities, recreational park usage and financing implications, including ongoing maintenance.

Former Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova will lead the task force, and it will include representatives from the community, environmental groups and nonprofit organizations.

The task force will meet one more time in July on the 24th from 7 to 9pm. The meeting will take place at the Fairfax County Government Center in Conference Rooms 2 and 3.

The meeting can be watched live on channel 16 or streamed live online here.

Welcome to our Interns!

I am thrilled to share our office has three interns this summer.

Nicholas DeSante, our Constituent Services intern, is sophomore at William & Mary, majoring in public policy and minoring in economics. As a lifelong resident of Franconia, he is very excited to be involved in the workings of the local government and serve his community. He likes to bake/cook, graphic design, reading, walk around Alexandria, and bike around the neighborhood.

Benjamin Glassman, our Communications intern, is a rising junior at Temple University. He is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in communication and social Influence and hopes to use his experiences in our office to go into a career that helps those in need. Outside of the office, he is a big fan of music and film, and also plays drums.

Anthony Thompson, our Community Outreach intern, is a rising senior at Mt. Vernon High School enrolled in The International Baccalaureate® (IB) program. He enjoys playing sports, like football and basketball, listening to music, and playing video games with his friends. He is currently working with a group of friends on a community-based initiative to amplify the youth voice to create equitable change in his community. He’s a recent graduate of the Morehouse School of Medicine Public Health Youth Ambassador Program, upon graduation, he hopes to attend a HBCU and pursue a career in the healthcare field.

I hope you all join me in welcoming them to our office!

Franconia Nights Summer Entertainment Series

I am happy to invite you to Franconia Nights! This past Wednesday, we enjoyed the performance from The Pietasters! On July 19th, we welcome the Chuck Brown Band (Go Go/Funk/Soul).

Supervisor Rodney Lusk and the Fairfax County Park Authority present the Franconia District Summer Entertainment Series' Franconia Nights at Leonadus K. Plenty Amphitheater 2023 schedule:

• July 19 – Chuck Brown Band (Go Go/Funk/Soul)

• July 26 – Silver Tones Swing Band (Swing Dance)

• August 2 – Pablo Perez El Alcadle de La Salsa (Salsa)

• August 9 – Alexandria Harmonizers (Chorus)

• August 16 – The Nighthawks (Blues)

• August 23 – Dave Kline Band (World Jazz Fusion)

Franconia Nights at Leonadus K. Plenty Amphitheater are held at Franconia District Park at 6601 Telegraph Rd, Alexandria every Wednesday from 7:30-8:30pm.

Performances are held outdoors, bring lawn chairs. In case of inclement weather, call the concert hotline at (703) 324-7469 before leaving home. Cancellations are posted one hour prior to show time. This is the perfect occasion to bring your loved ones, dance, or just sit back and enjoy the night! I hope to see you there!

3 Great Reasons to Go Solar in Fairfax County in 2023

Making the switch to solar power is easier and more affordable than ever, thanks to Solarize Virginia and Capital Area Solar Switch, two programs that reduce the cost and complexity of going solar. For more information, see 3 Great Reasons to Go Solar in Fairfax County in 2023.

Through end of August, homeowners can sign up to receive a free assessment and quote from a qualified solar installer, and a guaranteed discounted rate. There are even opportunities to bundle your solar system with electric vehicle charging stations and solar battery storage.

Learn more at upcoming webinars for Fairfax County. In the sessions, you will

Learn about solar energy,
Learn more about the co-op purchasing programs and how they work, with no cost to join or obligation to purchase solar panels,
Hear from solar-power installers.

Solarize Fairfax Webinar

July 27, 6 p.m.

Fairfax County Solar Switch 101 Webinar

Aug. 9, 6 p.m.

School Age Child Care (SACC) Program Registration for 2024-25 Year

Opened July 11

Registration for Fairfax County's School Age Child Care program (SACC) for the 2024-25 school year opened on July 11, 2023.

The SACC program, operated by Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services, offers before- and after-school care for children attending kindergarten through sixth grade in most Fairfax County public elementary schools and several community centers. Signup is alphabetical by school, so make note of your school's date here.

Fairfax County Public Library Summer Reading Challenge

June 16-August 18

School's out for summer!

The Fairfax County Summer Reading Adventure is for YOUTH and ADULTS and participating is as easy as 1-2-3! Participate from June 16th to August 18th.

Go to fairfaxcounty.beanstack.org and register for the Summer Reading Adventure appropriate for you or your children.
Depending on your age, earn ten or fifteen virtual badges by reading or listening to books, reading for 20 or 30 minutes, completing activities or a combination of all three.
Once you have earned your badges, visit your local library branch and receive prizes.

For more information, visit Youth Summer Reading 2023 and Adult Summer Reading 2023. Watch the Learn About Summer Reading Adventure: All Together Now video.

Capital Area Food Bank Summer Meals at Audubon Estates

Capital Area Food Bank is providing summer meals throughout the region. If you are near Audubon Estates, you can get supper Monday to Friday from 6 to 7 pm. More information about locations and meal times can be found here.

Fairfax County Public Schools - Summer Meal Program

Hunger doesn’t take a vacation and neither do we! The Office of Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) will be hosting the Summer 2023 Summer Meal Service at schools throughout FCPS. Check out the school sites in the Franconia District:

Cameron ES
Garfield ES
Groveton ES
Hybla Valley ES
Key MS and Key Center
Lynbrook ES
Mount Eagle ES
Springfield Estates ES

Fairfax County Public Schools is participating in the Summer Food Service Program. Meals will be provided to all children without charge and are the same for all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability or age, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service. Meals will be served in the school cafeteria, with a few exceptions noted in the list below, meals will be provided on a first come, first serve basis, at the sites and times as follows. All sites are closed on July 3rd and July 4th.

FNS will offer no-cost breakfast and lunch to all children 18 years of age and younger. There is no registration involved and everyone is welcome! Meals must be consumed on site. Click here for more info and to find a site near you.

ECHO Food Donations

Over the past couple of months we have collected over 300 pounds of food for ECHO. We were so moved by the amount of food donated that we have decided to continue to accept donations at my office. We will be delivering all of the donated items at the end of the month. You still have time to donate! If you have non-perishable items that you wish to donate, please drop them off at my office. Let's continue to help lower food insecurity in our district!

More information: https://www.echo-inc.org/

Park Authority Community Survey

The Park Authority is seeking community feedback on the proposed concepts included in the Draft PROSA Report Summary.

The Draft PROSA Report Summary outlines several key areas of consideration and prioritization when it comes to park development and improvement planning, including park access, habitat connectivity, park experiences and equity. The outcomes of PROSA will inform our Capital Improvement Program (CIP), land acquisition and many other decisions once completed this year.

Comments can be submitted by completing the online survey below or attending one of two virtual workshops scheduled in July. Links for both options are included below. Comments will be accepted through Sunday, August 6, 2023.

Please complete the online survey! They survey is available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Korean, and Vietnamese. Additional languages are available by using the “Translate” button in the upper right-hand side of the survey.
REGISTER to attend a virtual workshop via Zoom:
Tuesday, July 18, 2023 (6:30 p.m.) – Register Here
Tuesday, July 25, 2023 (6:30 p.m.) – Register Here

Senior Cool Care Program

Are you in need of additional cooling during the summer?

The Senior Cool Care Program is a public-private partnership sponsored by Dominion Energy and administered by the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services through the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging that helps low-income older citizens in our jurisdiction keep cool during summer months.

The program runs May 1 through October 31, 2023. This program does not provide financial assistance, but it provides additional cooling at home, such as fans, for eligible older adults, age 60 and older.

If you are interested in learning more about the program, please contact the Aging, Disability & Caregiver Resource Line: 703-324-7948.

Real Estate Tax Bill Information

For those unaware, real estate tax bills are mailed twice a year. This is done for the installments due July 28 and December 5 each year. Almost all first installment bills have been mailed. If you have not received your bill please email the Revenue Collection Division at DTARCD@fairfaxcounty.gov to get any issues sorted out.

In order to prevent any payment issues, I encourage you to set up an automatic payment system. You can choose either monthly, quarterly, or full lump sum to remit payment. If you’re interested, the electronic funds transfer form can be accessed here and FAQs can be accessed here. Any questions can be sent to DTAEFT@fairfaxcounty.gov or (703) 222-8234.

Online payments can be made by visiting the Department of Tax Administration (DTA) website. E-check payments are free. Additional ways to pay can also be found on their website at Pay Taxes & Fees | Tax Administration (fairfaxcounty.gov). To make a payment, residents will need their map reference number and the stub number, which is located on the tax bill. Residents can reach out to DTARCD@fairfaxcounty.gov or (703) 222-8234 if they assistance. Residents who may need a payment plan are encouraged to contact the DTA.

Statewide Digital Opportunity Survey

The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development's Office of Broadband has launched a statewide survey to gather data that will inform a Virginia Digital Opportunity Plan.

All Fairfax County residents are encouraged to complete this quick, 10-minute survey to help better understand your digital needs. Together, we can foster digital opportunity in the county and commonwealth by ensuring that all residents have access to affordable, reliable, and high-speed internet, and have the skills necessary to use the internet to its full potential.

Take the Survey

Opioid Overdoses Continue; Learn How to Get Help

Some quick information and tips:

In all of 2022, there were more than 300 nonfatal opioid overdoses in the Fairfax Health District.
In the first half of 2022 (January-June), there were 45 fatal opioid overdoses in the Fairfax Health District.
Take steps to prevent future overdoses or help individuals who need assistance.
County resources include REVIVE! trainings, substance use treatment services and a 24/7 Emergency Services line.
Learn six key facts about fentanyl, including that it's the leading cause of death for people under age 50.

If you or someone you know is experiencing substance use issues, there are numerous county resources available:

If the situation is immediately life-threatening, call 911. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue personnel carry medication that can prevent deaths from opioid overdose.
Call the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) Entry & Referral line at 703-383-8500, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., to access behavioral health services, including substance use treatment services for youth and adults.
If it's after business hours, call CSB Emergency Services at 703-573-5679 or the Fairfax Detoxification Center at 703-502-7000; both are available 24/7.
CSB Peer Outreach Response Team (PORT) provides outreach, engagement and resource navigation to individuals who have serious opioid and other substance use challenges. If you or someone you know could benefit from PORT services, call 703-559-3199.
Fairfax County continues working to address the opioid epidemic through the County’s Opioid and Substance Use Task Force, which has over 30 opioid-related programs/activities focused on reducing opioid-related overdoses and deaths in the Fairfax community.

For more information please visit: Opioid Overdoses Continue; Learn How to Get Help | News Center (fairfaxcounty.gov)

Mason Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs)

Are you a small business owner or thinking about becoming an entrepreneur? SBDCs use business experts from George Mason University to provide no-cost business counseling and training services to the small business community. Training and workshops cover business formation, marketing, pitch preparation, financing, SEO, cybersecurity, government contracting, and more. Discover more here.

Summer Heat Safety Tips

Summer is a time for enjoying the outdoors, but it’s important to be aware of the dangers of excessive heat. Summer heat can be a dangerous thing if you aren’t careful. Heat-related illnesses can range from mild conditions like heat rash and cramps to more serious conditions like heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Visit Summer Heat Safety Tips for some tips to help you stay safe and healthy during the hot summer months ahead.

Your Guide to Summer

It’s summertime and there are plenty of things to do here in the area. Here’s a quick guide to summer in Fairfax County:

Explore water! Pools, splash parks, lakes and more (but note health advisory about local streams).
Summer Entertainment Series features 180+ performances at 18 venues.
Keep reading with the Summer Reading Adventure.
Make southern Fairfax County a staycation -- check out Potomac Banks.
Hunger doesn't take a vacation - learn about summer meals for kids.
Learn about using FCPS school grounds this summer.

You can find more information here: Your Guide to Summer 2023 in Fairfax County | News Center

Thank you for the opportunity to serve.

Rodney L. Lusk

Franconia District Supervisor

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